Journal box packing



July 4, 1961 R. J. HARKENRIDER JOURNAL BOX PACKING 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed. July 17, 1957 INVENTOR.

y 1961 R. J. HARKENRIDER 2,991,134

' JOURNAL BOX PACKING Filea July 17, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 4, 1961 NR D 2,991,134

- JOURNAL BOX PACKING Filea July 17, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

y 1961 R. J. HARKENRIDE. 2,991,134

JOURNAL BOX PACKING Fileu July 17, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

2,991,134 JOURNAL \BOX PACKING Robert J. Harkenrider, Winona, Minn, assignor to Miller I My invention relates to a journal box packing for railroad car journal boxes, and more particularly, to a journal box packing package of the type employing a lubricating envelope or sheet of capillary material that is pressed against the journal by a resilient non-metallic core structure formed from lubricant impervious and resisting rubher like materials. a

This invention relates to an improvement over the journal box packing disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 601,01 1, filed July 30, 1956, now Patent No. 2,927,828, granted March 8, 1960, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, though the improvements I disclose in the present application are applicable to a wide range of lubricating applications. The packing of said copending application relates to a lubricator which includes a pair of core structures that extend longitudinally of the journal, and each core structure is encircled by a waste blanket. The lubricator pro vides capillary feed paths of minimum length that extend between the lubricant reservoir and the underside of the journal adjacent the center of the journal.

My application Serial No. 624,942, filed November 28, 1956, now Patent No. 2,936,198, granted May 10, 1960, the disclosure of Which is hereby incorporated by reference, relates to an improved journal box packing which includes a capillary sheet or blanket that extends between the lubricant reservoir and the journal and includes a layer of lubricant resisting foam rubber or rubber like material secured to the underside of the sheet or blanket. The layer of foam rubber or rubber like material is bonded directly to the capillary material of the blanket, as by being foamed in place onrthe blanket; the foam rubber or rubber like material serves to catch excess lubricant that drips or is thrown from the journal and maintains this excess oil closely adjacent the journal for reapplication thereto during travel of the railed vehicle. As the journal moves up and down during travel of the railed vehicle, it bears against the capillary material and the foam rubber-or rubber like material secured thereto with the result that the oil retained by the foam rubber or rubber like material is squeezed into the capillary material and onto the journal.

Experiment has taught that, While a practical capillary feed journal box packing must have a number ofimportant characteristics, one of prime importance is that the packing must provide maximum lubrication while at the same time be so constructed that capillary fibers and the like cannot be separated from the packing by the rotating journal.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a lubricator that is specifically designed to markedly increase the oil film that is applied to the journal and also to provide a firm anchor for all capillary fibers that might otherwise be drawn from the lubricator by the action of the rotating journal.

Other objects of the invention are to improve on the lubricating characteristics of lubricators in general, provide an improved capillary feed material, improve on the design of the core structures employed in journal box packings, provide a lubricator in which the lubricant containedin the oil reservoir of the journal box does not slosh through the center of the lubricator, and provide a journal box packing that is economical of manufacture, eilieient in use, and capable of being installed without jacking the box 1 i tates Patent Other objects, uses, and advantages Will be obvious or become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the application drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, parts being broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 1a is a perspective view of a core retaining bag employed in the embodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 1b is a plan view of a capillary blanket employed in the embodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2 is a plan View of the lubricator shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic fragmental cross-sectional view approximately along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic fragmental cross-sectional view along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic fragmental view illustrating a portion of the improved lubricating blanket material comprising an important feature of the present invention;

FIGURE 5a is a view similar to that of FIGURE 5, but illustrating a modified form of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a portion of the piled surface shown in FIGURE 5 FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a portion of the lubricating material shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, illustrating the relationship between the foam material employed in accordance with the present invention and the fibrous strands forming a part of my invention;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 5, but illustrating a further modified form of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view through familiar parts of a railway car journal and journal box, showing same equipped with the packing illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 10 and 11 are respectively a sectional view and a plan view illustrating the manner in which the foam material may be foamed in place directly on the blanket material of the lubricator;

FIGURE 12 diagrammatically illustrates a mold that may be used to foam the foamed rubber or rubber like material directly in place on the blanket material;

FIGURE 13 is a transverse cross-sectional view through a simplified journal box packing arranged in accordance with the principles of my invention;

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 13, but illustrating a modification of the packing shown in FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 13, though it is partially in elevation and illustrates a different simplified form of journal box packing employing the principles of my invention; and

FIGURE 16 is a fragmental cross-sectional view illustrating a modification of the packing shown in FIG- URE 15.

General description Reference numeral 12 of FIGURE 1 generally indicates a preferred embodiment of my invention, which in FIGURE 9 is shown in place between the lower portion of a conventional axle journal 11 and the bottom 13 of a conventional journal box 10, in what is commonly referred to as the oil or lubricant cellar of the journal box.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, the packing 12 generally comprises a pair of attached laminated lubricating or capillary blankets 14, handle means 16, a pair of relatively flat resilient core structures 20, and a pair of fabric bags or containers 22 in which the respective core structures 20 are received. These elements are more particularly described hereinafter.

The lubricating blankets The lubricating blankets 14 are each initially shaped somewhat as shown in FIGURE 1b, which is substantially the shape shown and described in said application Serial No. 601,011. The blanket material may include the same components as those described in my copending application Serial No. 624,942, which comprise (see FIG- URE a fabric capillary strip or layer and a foam layer or body 50. The capillary strip 30 may comprise a fabric in the form of a plain basket weave formed by warp threads 34 and woof threads 36, and having interwoven or stitched in the basket weave elongate high lift capillary strands or yarns 38 of high or maximum capillary action material. The warp and woof threads 34 and 36 may include both threads of high capillary action and threads having high tensile and wet strength, either in alternating arrangement or any other suitable arrangement. Vicara for capillary qualities and nylon for tensile strength are examples.

The strands or yarns 38 should have good capillary characteristics, resilience, and high temperature resistance. Suitable materials for making yarns 38 are ramie, cotton, nylon, mobye wool, and Acrilan.

The elongate strands or yarns 38 may also comprise a uniform blend of 85 percent Vicara, code 500, bright, unbleached, 3 denier, with the fibers approximately three inches long, and 15 percent wool, 64s quality AA type. A suitable antistatic finish, such as that sold under the trademark Avcosol 104 made by the American Viscose Corporation of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, plus a small amount of Zelec NE, made by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company of Wilmington, Delaware, should be applied to the fibers when spinning. The yarn is preferably spun on the woolen system and in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 5, the fiber specified may be spun into two-ply 17 cut yarn with a yarn twist of 9% turns per inch, 8 direction in the singles, 5% turns per inch, 2 direction in the plied yarn. The fiber composition and yarn twist of strands or yarns 38 is as specified in the application of myself and Louis R. Mizell and Julian Berch, Serial No. 533,126, filed September 8, 1955, now Patent No. 2,943,378, granted July 5, 1960, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in interests of brevity.

As shown in FIGURES 4, 5, and 6, the elongate strands 38 of each blanket 14 form or make up piled surfaces 40, the surfaces 40 forming the applicator or lubricant applying surfaces of the packing. In the area of these surfaces 40, the strands 38 in the illustrated arrangement are passed under identical alternate woof threads 36a and over identical alternate woof threads 36b to form rows 42 of closely spaced loops 44 (see FIGURES 5 and 6). As indicated in FIGURES 1 and 4, the piled surfaces 40 stop short of the edges 41 of the blankets, and do not extend across the middle portion 45 of each blanket. Preferably, the strands 38 extend from one edge 41 of the blanket to the other edge 41 thereof, and thus across portions 45, the strands 38 being woven into the basket weave formed by the warp and woof threads in these areas 45 in such a manner as to substantially lie in the plane of the basket weave. The strands are diagrammatically illustrated as straight lines 38 in FIGURE 1b.

The blankets 14 each further comprise a layer of foam material applied to the undersurface of the capillary material 30. The foam material is preferably of the open cell type, such as polyester foams, polyether foams, and castor oil foams; these substances fall into the category of the so-called urethane or polyurethane foams, made by, for instance, Mobay Chemical Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Oil resistant latex foams, such as Hycar foam rubber 1552, made by B. F. Goodrich Company of Akron, Ohio, or vinyl foams will also serve the purpose.

The basic ingredients of, for instance, the polyurethane the rising batter of a cake, whereby a multitude of open cells is formed throughout the mixture. If suitable catalysts have been employed, the resulting foam cures to a stable, solid state. A formula for one type of foam material would be 70-75 parts of polyether glycol, 25-30 parts Hylene organic diisocyanate, 2-3 parts water, 0.5-1 part wetting agent (such as silicone SF96 made by General Electric Company), and 1 part catalyst, such as mortholine.

The terms foam rubber or rubber like materials or foam rubber like material as used in this specification and accompanying claims means these foam materials as well as all others having the desired characteristics.

Preferably, the ingredients making up the foam material employed are mixed in a conventional manner and then applied directly to and foamed on the blanket material along the lines indicated in FIGURES 10 through 12. In FIGURE 10, the blanket 14 is shown supported by an assembly line conveyor belt with the undersurface of the blanket facing upwardly. A mold 56 in the form of a pair of appropriately shaped bottomless receptacles 58 united by connecting elements 60 is then placed on the upwardly facing surface of the blanket material, and then the foam ingredients are poured from suitable spouts 61 into the containers 58 on either side of the blanket material. After the containers 58 are filled, tops 63 of an appropriate type may be applied to the respective containers 58 and retained in place during the foaming period.

Preferably, the catenary of the belt 55 is such that the upper surfaces 62 of the molds will be substantially level with each other, as indicated in FIGURE 10. In the embodiment of FIGURE 1 this together with the shape of the molds proportions the bodies 50 for proper association with the specific core structure illustrated.

It should be understood that the illustrations of FIG- URES 10-12 are for mass production purposes, suitable locating means being provided for locating the individual blankets on the belt, and for locating the molds proper- 1y on the blankets. Additionally, appropriate hold down Y edge of the capillary material to the end of the core structure 20 (see FIGURE 3).

It will therefore be seen that each blanket 14 has applied thereto a pair of spaced layers or bodies 50 of foam rubber or rubber like material. As indicated in FIGURES 5 and 7, the foam rubber or rubber like material adheres directly to the fibers and strands making up the capillary material 30. The foam material also extends upwardly through the mesh openings between the strands to place the foam rubber material closely adjacent the applicator surfaces 40. The above mentioned foam materials have good bond strengths, which insures that all fibers are securely retained in place.

As also indicated in FIGURE 5, the strands 38 are initially so woven or stitched through the basket weave formed by strands 34 and 36 that loops 44a extend Well down into the foam material. This securely anchors the strands 38 as well as strands 34 and 36 to the blanket 14 and further insures that threads will not be drawn from the lubricator by the action of the journal.

'The layers or bodies 50 of foam material when cast in molds such as those indicated in FIGURES 10 through 12, are provided with a skin 70 along all surfaces thereof .5 which do not lie in the capillary material 30. The skins 70 have been found to be substantially lubricant impervious and form the bodies 50 into reservoirs for lubricant that is caught by the foam material. As indicated in FIGURES l and 3, it is desirable to pierce the skin 70 at the front of the lubricator with one or more perforations 69 to permit oil to readily enter the foam layers at the bottom of the packing for rapid transmission to the underside of the capillary material. The small perforations 69 do not detract from the oil collecting function of the foam bodies positioned at the top of the lubricator.

The foam material 50 is characterized by a multitude of open cells not only on its exterior surface, but all through the thickness thereof, except for the skins 70, which are essentially lubricant impervious membranes. During operation of the journal, excess lubricant that drips or is thrown from the journal collects in the foam rubber or rubber like material at the top of the packing and saturates same; since the layer or bodies 50 form in eifect reservoirs for oil, the trapped oil remains closely adjacent the journal. The embedded portions of strands 38 being surrounded by oil filled pockets will act as individual wicks for raising the trapped oil to the journal.

A modified form of blanket material 14a is shown in FIGURE 511, wherein reference numeral 72 indicates a layer of capillary material and reference numeral 74 indicates a layer of foam rubber or rubber like material. The blanket 14a of FIGURE a is provided m'th the same shape as that indicated in FIGURE lb, and the layer 72 may be of the type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,762,- 677, granted September 11, 1956. In accordance with the teachings of this patent, the layer 72 comprises layers 76 and 78 of carded waste needled to a woven carrier fabric 75 that includes a multiplicity of strands of high capillary action material. The layer 74 is a body of foam rubber or rubber like material of the type described above applied in the manner indicated above directly to the underwaste layer 78 in place of the adhesive described in said patent. The foam rubber in being foamed in place penetrates through the blanket material and tends to bind each and every waste thread to the blanket. Moreover, as a goodly portion of the layer 78 is made up of waste loops 77 pulled through carrier fabric 75, the fibers of these loops act as individual wicks in the same manner that the looped portions of strands 38 of FIGURE 5 do.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 8, a supplemental high tensile strength fabric 80 is received between the foam body 50 and the capillary layer 30. The high tensile strength fabric 80 may be formed by weaving strands of sisal, nylon, or the like into a plain basket weave having a mesh which is considerably larger than the mesh formed by warp and woof strands 34 and 36. Material 30 and material 80 are joined together by the strands 38 which are loosely stitched or woven through the adjacent meshes in a manner that will provide loops 44 and loops 44a. Preferably, the strands 38 are stitched so that they move under woof threads 81 of fabric 80 to form relatively deep or long loops 44a; one or more loops 44a may be formed between adjacent woof threads 81, as indicated in FIGURE 8. The woof threads or strands 81 being relatively thick, the loops 44a formed by passing strands 38 under the strands 81 will be relatively deeply embedded in the foam material; the other loops 44a will be embedded in the foam material that passes into the mesh spaces formed by the fabric 80, and need not be as deeply embedded in view of the deep embedding of loops 44a formed around strands 81.

The blankets 14 may be provided with a selvage edge (preferably before the foam material is applied) as at 85 at the front of the packing. The rear ends of the blankets may be edged in any suitable manner as at 87. As indicated in FIGURE lb, the edge 84 of each blanket (which forms the front end of each blanket 14) is squared with the edges 44 that form the sides of the blanket 14. The rear edge 86 opposite the edge 84 is notched or indented as indicated at 87 and in addition, the edges 44 are provided with rounded notches 88. After each blanket 14 has been formed in the manner indicated in FIGURE 1b and the layers or bodies 50 of foam material have been applied, the blankets 14 may be stitched together at spaced points along their middle portions 45 by stitching 92. Each blanket 14 may include an appropriate handle 16 secured in any suitable manner to one side thereof.

Preferably, the stitching 92 also includes a bight portion 94 formed in the respective fabric bags 22 that are employed to secure core structures 20 in place.

The resilient cores and securing means therefor The resilient core structures of the illustrated embodiments comprise a flat resilient pad which is composed mainly of a stack of like parallel tubes 102. Tubes 102 may be separately extruded, or may be integrally extruded in, for instance, the form illustrated, wherein each tube has a wall portion 104 in common with other tubes 102 and integral with them at adjacent corners 106. The individual pads 100 are of a cellular structure which is entirely integral; the material comprising same makes it possible to have an extremely light springy element with a strong resistance to deforming pressure and a high recovery upon release, even after being compressed for a long time under adverse temperature conditions. The tubes 102 are preferably made from a suitable lubricant resistant and impervious material such as synthetic rubber. The tubes 102 may be produced in accordance with the teachings of my copending application Serial No. 418,442, filed March 24, 1954, now Patent No. 2,908,037, granted October 13, 1959. Said application also discloses suitable materials for making the pads. The disclosure of said application is incorporated 'herein by reference in the interests of brevity.

Preferably, the pads 100 are somewhat shorter in length than the length of the lubricator, so that when centered within the respective blankets 14, the ends of the pads 100 will be spaced inwardly from the edges 84 and 86 of the blankets 14 approximately as shown in FIGURE 3. The ends of the pads 100 may be trimmed off square with respect to their longitudinally extending axes.

While the multitubular pads illustrated in the drawing figures are a preferred type of core, similarly shaped pads of sponge rubber, natural hair, or fiberglass would also be satisfactory.

As indicated in the drawing figures, each pad 100' is received within a fabric bag or container 22.

Each fabric bag or container 22 may have the general shape illustrated in FIGURE la, which includes spaced side portions and 112 interconnected by bight portion 94 and terminating in end flaps 114 and side flaps 116. The fabric bag 22 may be formed from a sheet of a cloth or canvas of a suitable grade impregnated with an oil impervious substance such as Hycar latex, made by the said BF. Goodrich Company, or phenolic resins. After each sheet is provided with the general configuration and proportions indicated in FIGURE la, the bight portion 94 is formed by doubling over the center portion of the sheet and including same in the stitching 92 that secures the blankets 14 together. Each pad 100 is then received between the sides 1 10 and 112 of the respective bags 22, and end flaps 1-14 are secured together by appropriate stitching 118 (see FIGURE 1). The edges 44 of each blanket with the side flaps 116 interposed between same are secured together by appropriate stitching 119 applied longitudinally of the edges of the lubricator. As indicated in FIGURE 2, the hollow rivets 120 described in my said application Serial No. 601,011 may be applied to the rear end of each side of the lubricator.

When the embodiment of FIGURE 1 is put to use, it is compressed and worked down under the journal into the position shown in FIGURE 9. The notches 88 of the blankets 14 are aligned with each other along the transverse axis of the lubricator by the manner in which the blankets 14 are secured together. This, together with the spaced stitching 92, permits or provides additional flexibility of the lubricator and allows the lubricator to be installed without having to jack the journal box.

Simplified embodiments of the invention FIGURES 13 through 16 illustrate simplified embodiments of the invention which provide many of the advantages of the lubricator shown in FIGURE 1. These figures are all transverse cross sectional views (except for FIGURE 15, which is partially in elevation), it being understood that the packings illustrated have a length corresponding to the packing of FIGURE 1.

In the embodiment 145 of FIGURE 13, reference numeral 150 generally indicates a V-shaped layer of capillary material secured to resilient bodies 152 formed from foam rubber or rubber like material. The capillary material 150 is of the type illustrated in FIGURE and includes the piled surface 40a that forms the applicator surface of the lubricator and inwardly projecting loops that are embedded in the foam material in the manner indicated in FIGURE 5. Specifically, each side of the layer 150 may include the capillary material formed by warp and woof strands 34 and 36 and the strands 38 shown in FIGURE 5. At the lower end of the lubricator the two sides may be joined together as at 156 in any suitable manner.

The foam bodies 152 form the core structures of the lubricator of FIGURE 13, and are foamed in place on the undersurfaces of the layers 150. Appropriate molds and supporting devices will be apparent to those skilled in the art for accomplishing this purpose. The surfaces 155 of the bodies are coated with, for instance, urethane, to provide an oil impervious skin; spaced holes 157 may be formed in the skin forming the under surface of the lubricator to permit oil to feed into the foam bodies. The bodies 152 and capillary material 150 are formed to conform to the shape of the bottom of the journal box, and material 150 at point 159 extends between bodies 152 and their skins for direct contact with the oil in the journal box. The ends of bodies 152 are foamed with a skin 70 (not shown), which may be formed with perforations 69 (not shown).

The embodiment 170 of FIGURE 14 is generally similar to that of FIGURE 13, except that an oil impervious membrane 160 is interposed in the core structure on each side of the lubricator. The membranes 160 may be in the form of a foam skin formed by first foaming the relatively thin foam layers 161 directly on the capillary material 150, and then foaming the thick layers 163 on top of the respective thin layers 161.

In the embodiment 180 of FIGURE 15, a generally rectangular blanket blank 190 formed from capillary material such as that shown in FIGURES 5 or 5a is looped to bring its ends 200 together and then the ends are joined in any appropriate manner. The blanket blank, which is formed throughout its length with applicator surface 40, is then provided with a generally elliptical shape, and then the space within is filled with foam material. Preferably, the foam material is of the type described above and is foamed in place by using the blanket blank as a mold to provide a foam core 204, appropriate end mold elements being employed at the ends of the blanket to complete the mold. The core 204 is thus provided with skin 70 on its ends by the molding operation; consequently, the core 204 may be formed with a plurality of relatively wide longitudinally extending passageways 206 that extend entirely through the core. Passageways 206 permit the lubricant of the journal bodies to reach the internal portions of the core and thus provide even distribution of the lubricant throughout the core.

The embodiment 209 of FIGURE 16 is generally similar to that of FIGURE 15, except lubricant impervious membranes 210 are provided about the core 204a and spaced from the periphery of the core at the top and bottom thereof. Membranes 219 may be formed in the same manner as membranes of FIGURE 14, as by first foaming relatively thin layer 211 directly on the capillary material to form a skin 70, and then forming the relatively thick center portion 213 right on the previously formed membrane 210.

In the embodiments of FIGURES l4 and 16, the membranes 160 and 210 inhibit the passage of lubricant through the foam rubber material to the bottom of the journal box.

Advantages of the invention One of the most important features of the invention is the center capillary feed provided, for instance, by the bent portions of the blankets 14 of the embodiment of FIGURE 1, that is, the area of each along which they are secured together. As seen in FIGURE 9, this portion of the lubricator is disposed immediately under the lowermost portion of the journal, and immediately above the bottom or lowest portion of the journal box. The capillary layers of, for instance, the embodiment of FIGURE 1 extend from a position adjacent the lowest portion of the journal box to a position adjacent the lowest portion of the journal. This arrangement provides wick means extending through the center of the packing resulting in an unusually short feed path from the oil reservoir of the journal box to the journal. The embodiments of FIG- URES l3 and 14 provide a similar advantage.

Another important feature of the invention is the cooperation between the foam bodies and the blanket material to which they are secured. As the foam bodies are foamed in place on the undersurfaces of the blanket blanks, the highly porous foam material is integrated with the capillary material by directly contacting and adhering to the individual threads of the capillary material; thus, the threads are firmly anchored in place. The multitude of open cells that are characteristic of the foam material catch the oil that drips or is thrown from the journal and retain it closely adjacent to the blanket material, which has been found to have the result of increasing the oil saturation of the blanket during normal operating conditions.

As the threads that actually contact the journal and supply lubricant thereto are imbedded in the oil saturated foam layers, and in effect are surrounded by a multitude of tiny cells, each of which catches the surface oil, the lubricantfeed to the journal is materially increased, with a corresponding increase of oil film on the journal during normal operating conditions. Preferably, the reservoir formed by skins '70 should not be too deep so that the ends of, for instance, loops 44a or 77 will be surrounded by foam material containing a maximum amount of oil. Suitable proportions are indicated in the drawings. The bottom skins 70 of the upper foam bodies 50 of FIGURE 1 and membranes 160 and 210 of FIGURES 14 and 16 form oil impervious stratums that are spaced from the juncture of the capillary and foam layers, and in effect dam the downward oil flow; where these are employed, the foam bodies should be no thicker between the stratums and the capillary material than the capillary lift of the foam material employed. Foam materials of the type above described that are suitable for forming the herein described foam bodies have a capillary lift of about /2 inch and I recommend that, for instance, foam bodies 50 be from A to /2 inch thick.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 1, the foam bodies on the upper and lower sides of the lubricator are physically separated and thus isolated from each other, which insures that the oil will not drain from the top foam bodies to the bottom foam bodies and thence back to the oil reservoir. In addition, the skins 70 insure that the oil is retained in the upper foam bodies, perforations 69 v rial.

9 being small enough to not materially detract from this function of the bodies. Since some oil escapes from the foam bodies, they tend to act as a time delay device for restricting oil return to the journal box reservoir.

During operation of the journal, the foam material cooperates with the journal and the capillary material to provide a reflux type action on the oil that is applied to the journal. Assuming the journal rotates in the direction of the arrow of FIGURE 9, oil drips or is thrown by the journal back on to the area 250; and being retained adjacent the capillary material by the underlying body 50, is reapplied to the journal to supplement the oil reaching the journal by capillary action through the capillary mate- As rotation continues, the oil film applied to, the journal increases until a stabilized condition is arrived at, the oil film applied to the journal depending on the cell size of the foam material and the thickness of the underlying body 50.

It has been found that isolating the foam material adjacent the journal from the oil in the bottom of the box oil reservoir, as by skins 70 and membranes 160 and 210, insures that much more oil is retained adjacent the journal than was heretofore thought possible.

i It has been further found that, in the embodiment of FIGURE 1, the elimination of the piled surface across the portions of the blankets that abut each other when they are secured together by stitching 92 has the effect of providing a more rapid capillary feed through the center of the lubricator since the feed path through strands 38 is materially reduced by eliminating loops 44 and 44a. This insures a greater capillary feed over an already shortened feed path provided by the positioning of the blanket material.

The configuration of the packing 12 is particularly adapted to prevent the draining of lubrication oil out of the rear end of the journal box. As seen in FIGURE 2, the notches or indentations 87 of the rear edges 86 of the blankets 14 combine to provide a re-entrant angle 230 in the rear of the lubricator, which forms a drain port outwardly of the rear fillet of the journal and permits the excess oil accumulating between the two lubricating bodies formed by the blankets 14 and their respective core means during operation of the journal to drain back to the oil reservoir of the journal box. Angle 230 also permits the rear fillet of the journal to be positioned between the ends 252 of the lubricator without contacting and deforming the packing to form a sort of a pitcher spout that acts to pour excess oil out of the rear of the journal box. Ends 252 act as stops that contact the rear end of the journal box as the packing is slipped in place.

The embodiment of FIGURE 1 provides outwardly extending side edges, which have a peaked or tent like configuration (see FIGURE 9) that forms shelf means which tends to catch a good portion of the surplus oil that drips from the journal during operation, thereby further saturating the area of each blanket 14 at the juncture of the respective blankets and the journal surfaces. This permits a further increase in the film of oil applied to the journal during operation. The excess oil collecting at this portion of the packing drains back to the oil reservoir through the hollow rivets 120 at the rear ends thereof that are employed to help secure the blanket ed'ges together.

The semi-circular notches or cut-out portions 88 on the side edges of the packing not only aid in making the packing more flexible, but also permit installation in bolted boxes having internal bosses. These cut-out portions not only permit the packing to clear these bosses, but also help to prevent it from shifting toward the front of the box, since the cut-out portions will be received about the bosses.

The bags 22 securely hold pads 100 in place within the respective blankets. The bags being substantially lubricant impervious, they prevent lubricant from sloshing through the tubes 102 of the specific pads illustrated.

It will be observed that the package 12 as well as the embodiments of FIGURES 15 and 16 are substantially symmetrical, and that when it is desirable to present a new surface against the journal, the packing may be removed, turned over, and reinserted; thus the used surface of the blankets will be facing downwardly in the journal box and the hitherto unused surface of the blankets will be in contact with the journal. The package 12 as Well as the embodiments of FIGURES l5 and 16 are therefore two-sided or reversible ones with corresponding increase in useful life. Moreover, by positioning the edges of the blanket at the sides of the packing, capillary action is just as good regardless of which side of the lubricator is in contact with the journal.

The handle means 16 makes it relatively easy to removethe package 12 from the journal. The metallic or metal end pieces shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 1 are formed with an opening adapted to receive a hook that is similar to that ordinarily found on a box packers tool, and by which the package may be withdrawn from the journal box. Similar handles 16 may be app-lied to the embodiments of FIGURES 13 through 16 in any suitable manner.

The stitching 92 illustrated in FIGURE 1 is particularly adapted to avoid constriction or confinement of the high capillary action material woven or stitched into the blankets 14. It will be observed that instead of employing stitching that runs all the way across the blankets longitudinal-ly of the lubricator, the individual stitchings 92 are spaced apart longitudinally of the packing and extend transversely thereof; this insures that there will be considerable portions of the capillary material that are not bound at all by the stitching 92. Also, st-itchings 92 are preferably as loose as are permitted by the nature of my package.

The core structures being positioned well within the front and rear edges of the packing (see FIGURE 3), they will not bulge outwardly of the packing when same is compressed. This eliminates the possibility of damage to the core structure due to contact with parts of the rotating journal.

The foam material employed for the foam bodies or layers of my invention should have a number of characteristics. First of all, the foam material should have a low compression set, in the range of five to ten percent (compression set is the set that the foam material takes under a standard set of conditions). A further important characteristic is that the foam material should be resistant to car journal lubricating oils for a minimum period of six to eight years. The foam material should also be resistant to temperatures approximating 250 F. (preferably 300 F.) and should be of a type that will retain a high degree of flexibility at sub-zero temperatures. As mentioned above, the open cell characteristic is of prime importance as it is the open cells that catch the lubricant.

The foam material should have a relatively good tensile strength, at least several times that of natural rubber foams. The material selected should have a deflection curve roughly approaching that of rubber foams and in addition the foams should have good adhesive qualities.

I have found that the polyether type foams with a density of two to four pounds per cubic foot seem to possess the most suitable combination of properties for journal lubricator application.

With respect to the type of capillary blanket material employed, while the drawings illustrate several preferred forms, many other forms are also equally suited'to the purpose. The essential thing is that the blanket material include a multitude of threads that are imbedded in the foam material and extend to the journal surf-ace being lubricated.

The lubricating pads herein disclosed may be renovated for reuse after long periods of service by adaptation of standard waste washing machines. These machines include a tank provided with an agitator in which waste is washed in oil at temperatures between F. and 200 F. for a period of from twenty to thirty minutes, and a centrifuge including a rotating receptacle for removing the oil. These machines are adapted for cleaning my lubricators by substituting a circular basket for the agitator that is provided with compartments for the pads being treated. After a twenty minute cycle of Washing in the basket in the oil heated as above, the pads are placed on end against the outside wall of the rotating receptacle and the centrifuge operated for a three to five minute cycle. This produces pads that are quite clean and suitable for reuse.

This application is a continuation in part of my said applications Serial No. 601,011 and Serial No. 624,942.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explain and illustrate my invention, and the invention is not to be limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, since those skilled in the art who have my disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a lubricator pad including a piled applicator surface for applying lubricant to a journal, said pad comprising a fabric sheet including a plurality of layers of juxtaposed woven fabric, a multitude of pile forming capillary strands interlaced with said layers of woven fabric, said strands forming a multitude of loops projecting from one side of said sheet to define the piled applicator surface, and a layer of foam rubber-like material on the underside of said sheet and adhering directly to said layers of fabric and said strands to affix said foam rubber-like material to said layers of fabric and said strands, one of said layers of fabric being formed from high tensile strength strands.

2. In a lubricator pad including a piled applicator surface for applying lubricant to a journal when the pad is in operative relation with the journal, said pad comprising a fabric blanket including a layer of woven fabric and a plurality of continuous, substantially parallel, strands having greater capillary lift characteristics than those of said fabric layer interwoven across said fabric layer to form a multitude of loops projecting from one side of the blanket to define the piled applicator surface, and a layer of foam rubber-like material on the other side of said blanket and adhering directly to said fabric layer and said strands to affix said fabric layer and said strands to said foam rubber-like material, said layer of foam rubber-like material comprising a multitude of open cells with those cells adhering to said fabric layer and said strands forming direct lubricant feed paths between said layer of foam rubber-like material and said fabric layer and strands respectively, said layer of foam rubber-like material thereby being in intimate lubricant transmitting contact with said fabric layer and said strands, respectively.

3. In a lubricator for a railroad car journal box of the type in which the floor of the box serves as an oil reservoir and oil is lifted by the lubricator to the undersurface of a car axle journal that extends into the box, said lubricator comprising a lubricating body adapted to be compressed and inserted between the axle journal and the floor of the box when the lubricator is placed in operative relation to the journal, said body comprising a fabric blanket formed with a piled applicator surface adapted to be placed in contact with the journal when the lubricator is placed in operative relation to the journal, said blanket including a layer of woven fabric and a plurality of continuous, substantially parallel, strands having greater capillary lift characteristics than those of said fabric layer interwoven across said fabric layer to form a multitude of loops projecting from one side of said blanket to define said piled applicator surface, said body further comprising a layer of foam rubber-like material on the other side of said blanket and adhering directly to said fabric layer and said strands to afllx said fabric layer and said strands to said foam rubber-like material, said layer of foam rubber-like material comprising a multitude of open cells with those cells adhering to said fabric layer and said strands forming direct oil feed paths between said layer of foam rubber-like material and said fabric layer and strands respectively, said layer of foam rubber-like material thereby being in intimate oil transmitting contact with said fabric layer and said strands, respectively, said strands being oriented to extend transversely of the journal when the lubricator is placed in operative relation to the journal, and said blanket being proportioned to extend into the oil reservoir when said lubricator is in operative relation to the journal.

4. The lubricator set forth in claim 3 wherein said strands in the area of said piled applicator surface form loops that project from said other side of said blanket and are embedded in said layer of foam rubber-like material, the last mentioned loops forming wicks for said piled surface and the adherence of said cells of said foam rubber-like material anchoring the first mentioned loops to said lubricator.

5. The lubricator set forth in claim 3 wherein the exterior surfaces of said layer of foam rubber-like material not contiguous with said blanket are formed with a lubricant impervious skin that forms said layer of foam rubber-like material into an oil reservoir.

6. In a lubricator pad including an applicator surface for applying lubricant to a journal when the pad is in operative relation with the journal, said pad comprising a fabric blanket including a layer of woven fabric carr ing inner and outer layers of carded waste, with copious threads of the waste interlaced through said fabric, with the outer layer of said waste defining the applicator surface, and a layer of foam rubber-like material on the inner layer of waste and adhering directly to the threads of said inner layer of waste and to said fabric layer to afllx said fabric layer and waste threads to said foam rubber-like material, said layer of foam rubber-like material comprising a multitude of open cells with those cells adhering to said fabric layer and said threads forming direct lubricant feed paths between said layer of foam rubber-like material and said fabric layer and waste threads, respectively, said layer of foam rubber-like material thereby being in intimate lubricant transmitting contact with said fabric layer and waste threads, respectively.

7. In a lubricator for a railroad car journal box of the type in which the floor of the box serves as an oil reservoir and oil is lifted by the lubricator to the undersurface of a car axle journal that extends into the box, said lubricator comprising a lubricating body adapted to be compressed and inserted between the axle journal and the floor of the box when the lubricator is placed in operative relation to the journal, said body comprising a fabric blanket structure formed with a piled applicator surface defining an open ended pocket, said blanket structure including a layer of woven fabric and a plurality of continuous, substantially parallel strands having greater capillary lift characteristics than those of said fabric layer interwoven across said fabric layer to form a multitude of loops projecting from one side of said blanket structure to define said piled applicator surface, said body further comprising a layer of foam rubber-like material on the other side of said blanket structure within said pocket and adhering directly to said fabric layer and said strands to atfix said fabric layer and said strands to said foam rubber-like material, said layer of foam rubber-like material comprising a multitude of open cells with those cells adhering to said fabric layer and said strands forming direct oil feed paths between said layer of foam rubber-like material and said fabric layer and said strands respectively, said layer of foam rubber-like material thereby being in intimate oil transmitting contact with said fabric layer and said strands, respectively, said strands being oriented to extend transversely of the journal when the lubricator is placed in operative relation to the journal, and said blanket structure being propor- 13 tioned to extend into the oil reservoir when said lubricator is in operative relation to the journal, with the surfaces of said layer of foam rubber-like material not contiguous with said blanket structures being formed with a lubricant impervious skin that forms said layer of foam rubber-like material into a lubricant reservoir.

8. In a lubricator for a railroad car journal box of the type in which the floor of the box serves as an oil reservoir and oil is lifted by the lubricator to the undersurface of an axle journal that extends intothe box, said lubricator comprising a resilient lubricating body adapted to be compressed and inserted between the axle journal and the floor of the box when the lubricator is placed in operative relation to the journal, said body comprising a fabric blanket structure formed with a piled applicator surface and defining an open ended pocket, said blanket structure including a layer of woven fabric and a plurality of continuous, substantially parallel strands having greater capillary lift characteristics than those of said fabric layer interwoven across said fabric layer to form a multitude of loops projecting from one side of said blanket structure to define said piled applicator surface, said body further comprising spaced layers of foam rubber-like material on the other side of said blanket structure within said pocket and disposed along diametrically opposed portions of said pocket, said layers of foam rubber-like material adhering directly to said fabric layer and said strands to affix said fabric layer and said strands to said foam rubber-like material, said layers of foam rubber-like material each comprising a multitude of open cells with those cells adhering to said fabric layer and said strands forming direct oil feed paths between said layers of foam rubber-like material and said fabric layer and said strands, respectively, said layers of foam rubberlike material thereby being in intimate oil transmitting contact with said fabric layer and said strands, respectively, said strands being oriented to extend transversely of the journal when the lubricator is placed in operative relation to the journal, said layers of foam rubber-like material being physically severed from each other, with the surface of said layers of foam rubber-like material not contiguous with said blanket structure being formed with a lubricant impervious skin that forms the respective layers of foam rubber-like material into lubricant reservorrs.

9. The lubricator set forth in claim 8 including a resilient core structure interposed between said layers of foam rubber-like material, said core structure being shorter in length than the length of said blanket structure and being centered said pocket, said layers of foam rubber-like material tapering between the end edges of said blanket structure and said core structure.

10. The lubricator set forth in claim 8 including a resilient core structure interposed between said layers of foam rubber-like material, said core structure comprising a stack of parallel tubes formed from resilient material and extending lengthwise of said pocket, said stack being encased in a flexible lubricant impervious bag.

11. In a lubricator for use in journal boxes of the type in which an axle journal is supported in the box, with an oil cellar at the bottom of the box, said lubricator comprising a multi lobe body in which the lobes extend longitudinally of the body, said body being formed to extend longitudinally of the journal when said lubricator is inserted in its operative position in the box, said lobes comprising spaced substantially parallel cores and capillary blanket means enclosing said cores, said blanket means comprising a layer of woven fabric and a plurality of continuous, substantially parallel strands having greater capillary lift characteristics than those of said fabric layer interwoven across said fabric layer to form a multitude of loops projecting from one side of said fabric layer to define a piled surface, said cores each comprising a layer of foam rubber-like material on the other side of said fabric layer and adhering directly to said fabric layer and strands of the respective lobes, to affix said fabric layers and said strands to the respective layers of said foam rubber-like material, said layers of foam rubber-like material comprising a multitude of open cells with those cells adhering to said fabric layers and said strands, respectively, forming direct oil feed paths between said respective layers of said foam rubber-like material and said fabric layers and said strands of said lobes, said layers of foam rubber-like material thereby being in intimate oi-l transmitting contact with the respective fabric layers and strands, said strands being oriented to extend transversely of the journal when the lubricator is placed in operative relation to the journal, said piled surfaces terminating short of the contiguous portions of said lobes, and said fabric layers and strands being interposed between said lobes lengthwise of said body for positioning adjacent the oil cellar when the lubricator is placed in operative position within the box.

References Cited in the-file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 91,000 Devlan June 8, 1869 1,810,443 Steurs June 16, 1931 2,007,078 Crabtree July 2, 1935 2,317,595 Faris Apr. 27', 1943 2,319,073 McElh-aney May 11, 1943 2,480,004 Dildilian Aug. 23, 1949 2,571,235 Hamer Oct. 16, 1951 2,677,872 Teague May 11, 1954 2,713,524 Hagy July 19, 1955 2,762,667 I-Iarkenrider Sept. 11, 1956 2,764,565 Hoppe et a1 Sept. 25, 1956 2,807,803 Rockwell Sept. 24, 1957 2,814,600 Mitchell Nov. 26, 1957 2,846,408 Brochhagen Aug. 5, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES Article on foamed polyurethanes published in British Plastic, January 1956, pages 5-9 and 39 relied upon. 

